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C. G. MILLER. ELECTROLYTIC GALVANIZING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-19,1911.

1919. '5 SHEETSSHEET 1.

Patented Nov. 18

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C. G. MILLER.

ELECTROLYTIC GALVANIZING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN.19.19I7f Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. G. MILLER.

ELECTROLYTIC GALVANIZING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19. 1911.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919,

6. SHEETSSHEET 3.

C. G. MILLER.

ELECTROLYTIC GALVANIZING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. T9. 191?- V L Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

c. e. MILLER. ELECTROLYTIC GALVANIZING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19 I917- Patented Nov. 18

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

f 1r; M E m C. G. MILLER.

ELECTROLYTIC GALVANIZING MACHINE.

AP| L|CAT|ON FILED JAN. 19. I917.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

6 SHEETSSHEET 6.

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CONSTAN'IINE Gr. MILLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MEAKER GALVANIZING- 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ELECTROLYTIC .GALVANIZING-IVIACHINJE.

eat en.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. In, I919,

Application filed January 19, 1917. Serial No. 143,361.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CoNsTAN'rINE G. MILLER, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrolytic GalvaniZing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same. reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a. part of this specification.

This invention relates to an electrolytic machine for electroplating articles by passage of the articles through an electrolytic solution, and with the articles themselves functioning as cathode or negative poles, and with the anode or positive pole members so disposed relative each article that any desired disposition of metal on the article takes place on all sides, both on the interior and exterior thereof. This machine is particularly designed for the handling of metal drums, barrels or cylindrical objects, which it is desired to galvanize both on the interior and exterior surfaces. Heretofore, great difliculty has been experienced in effecting galvanization of barrels or drums and similar cylindrical articles in a single process, to properly galvanize the same both on the interior and exterior surfaces. This machine, however, contemplates the automatic handling and passage of the objects through an electrolytic solution, and with the anodes so disposed as .to insure complete galvanization'of the article on all its surfaces, both the interior and exterior thereof. I

It is an object therefore of this invention to construct a galvanizing machine constructed to handle cylindrical articles such as drums, barrels. or similar objects, and during passage thereof through the ma chine, insuring complete galvanization of all surfaces both on the interior and exterior thereof.

It is also an object of this invention to construct an electrolytic machine for galvanizing articles wherein movable anode members are provided, one for association with each article, and with movable means for making the article a cathode, together with other stationary anode members, so

that during the progression of the article through the machine, complete galvanization thereof is assured.

It is also an object of this invention to construct a galvanizing machine provided with a conveying mechanism for the movement of articles t-herethrough whereby the articles are in themselves made cathodes in the machine, and with certain stationary anodes in the field of movement of the articles, and other movable anodes movable with the articles through the machine to permit galvanization of all surfaces of the articles, and the different surfaces with different thicknesses of deposit where so desired.

It is also an object of this invention to construct a galvanizing machine into which articles are introduced successively by feeding mechanism,provided for the purpose, and with an anode member associated with each article for movement therewith through the machine, together With means for electrical connection to the article after introduction into the machine to make the article a cathode member, to cause an electrolytic action to take place for disposition of the anode material upon the article and after movement of the article through themachine wit-h means operating to break the electrical circuit to the article, and transfer the article from the electrolytic solution through a rinsing bath to a point of discharge.

It is furthermore an important object of this invention to construct a galvanizing machine wherein articles are positively moved through the machine partially submerged in electrolyte and associated with movable anode members moving with the article, and moving through the field of, and adjacent to stationary anode members, connect-ed in an electrical circuit whereby the articles themselves are cathode members to insure a rapid and complete galvanization of the articles during their progress through the machine.

It is also an object of this invention to feed articles automatically into a galvanizing machine, passing the articles through a galvanizing solution in view of an operator, elevating the articles to drain the same and rinsing the articles before discharge, with the elements of themachine adjustable for articles of diflerent size and with the galvanizing deposit on all or different parts of the article under the control of the operator at all times.

It is a further object of this invention to construct a galvanizing machine operating to effect an electrolytic deposit upon articles passed through the machine, insuring complete galvanization of all surfaces, both interior and exterior of the articles.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent by the disclosure in the drawings and specification.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying the principles of my invention, with parts omitted.

Fig. 2 is a detail section on line 22 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the machine, v with parts omitted and parts shown in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end view of one of the anode members.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the machine at the discharge end thereof.

Fig. 7 is a. fragmentary plan view of the lower portion of the machine.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing parts of the machine in side elevation at the en trance end thereof.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing in side elevation one of the contact brushes which slides upon'the flexible copper belt.

v Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional detail on line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a detail top plan view of a portion of the mechanisms of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a detail view illustrating the bevel gear drive for mechanisms at one end of the machine.

Fig. 13 is a detail view taken on line 1813 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 14 is a sectional detail view of a trip lever mechanism at one end of the machine.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary end view of the feeding mechanism at one end of the machine.

cate machines having common operating mechanisms and consists of a tank denoted as a whole by the reference numeral 1, with a double walled central partition 2, extending therethrough, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Mounted near the front or entrance end of the machine upon the side walls of the tank 1, are uprights 3, and secured thereto are bearing boxes 4, in which a horizontal trans verse shaft 5, is mounted. Mounted near the rear or discharge end of the machine upon similar uprights 6, shown in Fig. 6, is a transversely extending shaft 7. Mounted upon said shaft 7 are four large belt wheels 8, and similarly, mounted in alinement therewith upon the forward transverse shaft 5, are four other belt wheels 9. Trained about the respective belt wheels 8 and 9, are a series of flexible copper belts 10, although, of course, any other conductor material may be used, or any type of link belt, cable or chain for the purpose capable of conducting an electric current.

The rear shaft 7, is driven by a chain 11. as shown in Fig. 6, engaged on the sprocket wheel on the shaft 7, and said chain is trained around another sprocket wheel on a shaft 12, which is journaled transversely of the machine at the rear end thereof. The shaft 12, is provided on its outer end with a worm wheel 13, which is driven from a worm 14, on a short longitudinally journaled shaft 15, provided with tight and loose pulleys 1G and 17, respectively. Secured transversely to the uprights 3, at the forward end of the machine, are cross-beams 18 and 19, respectively, and similar cross-beams 18 and 19, are mounted upon the uprights 6, near the rear end of the machine. Supported on the cross-beams 18, and extending longitudinally of the machine, are a pair of outwardly directed channels 20, upon which, at spaced intervals, are mounted uprights 21, with crossmembers 22, connecting the same, upon which in turn, are supported longitudinal upwardly directed channel track members 23, the extreme ends of which are curved downwardly, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8. Said channels 23, afford tracks for the upper run of a pair of continuous chains 24, and secured to certain links thereof, as shown in detail in Fig. 17, are yoke bracket members 26, for engagement with transversely extending rods or tubular bars 25. Journaled on each side of the middle portion of each of said rods 25, are brackets 27, each having a contact shoe 28, formed thereon, the forward end of which is longer than the rear end thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 18.

Secured in each of the brackets 27, and extending outwardly and parallel to the bar or rod 25, is a conductor bar 29, shown as square in cross-section, and connected to each of said conductor rods 29, and supported upon the rods 25, are pairs of anode elements, hereinafter described. Secured upon each side of each of the bars 25, are brackets 30, as shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5, and said brackets, as clearly shown, are provided with outwardly extending angled arms or bars 31, which are adjustably mounted, and journaled in the outer ends of said arms are sharp edged wheels or rollers 32. A substantially circular ring 33, is formed integral with each bracket 30, or attached thereto in any suitable manner, and depends below the same and attached around said rings 33, is a sheet 34, of the galvanizing metal or plating material used in the process.

Said chains 24, at the forward end of the machine, as they leave the guide tracks 23, are led around large sprocket wheels 35, mounted upon a shaft 36, journaled in bearings secured upon the uprights 3. The chains leaving the sprocket wheels 35, are led around sprocket wheels 37, thence over idler sprocket wheels 38, and downwardly beneath idler sprocket wheels 39, and atthe point at which said chains leave the sprocket wheels 38, the shoes 28, of the brackets 27, on said bars 25, move onto sup porting bus bars 40, which, at the forward end of the machine, are curved upwardly, as denotedby the reference numeral 41, to receive the shoes thereon as the chains leave the sprocket wheels 38. All of said sprocket wheels 37, 38 and 39, respectively, are mounted upon shafts which are journaled transversely of the machine in suitable bearings provided for the purpose. At the point at which the chains 24, are led around the idler sprocket wheels 37, a curved guide or track 42, is provided, against which said rods or bars 25, contact, to retain said rods engaged in the yokes 26, of the chains.

The chains 24, leave the guides 40, at the rear end of the machine, as shown in Fig. 6, leading beneath idler sprocket wheels 43, upwardly over sprocket wheels 44, and downwardly beneath sprocket wheels 45 and 46, respectively, said sprocket wheels 46, being secured upon the drive shaft 12, whereby a drive is imparted to the chains. The

horizontal run of the chains beneath the sprocket wheels 45 and 46, is disposed over a rinsing tank 47, and, of course, suitable guides are provided (not shown) to support the anode carrying bars 25, as the same are moved along by the-lower run of the chain. The chains 24, lead upwardly from the sprocket wheels 46, around sprocket wheels 48, and thence around sprocket wheels 49, journaled at the rear end of the machine and from which the chains lead upwardly around sprocket wheels 50, mounted upon a shaft supported upon uprights 51, at the uprights 52, of non-conductive material,

and lower horizontal members 53', also of non-conducting material. Laid transversely across said horizontal members 53, and spaced longitudinally through the tank, are

.bus bars 54, which lead upwardly along the inner uprights '52, and are secured thereto, and at their upper ends are. connected to the guiding bus bars 55, which are supported longitudinally of the machine in insulating supports 56. Laid longitudinally upon said spaced bus bars 54, in staggered relation, are a plurality of anode bars 5?,and dis posed slightly thereabove are insulating track members 58, upon which the articles, denoted by the reference numeral 59, are rolled along through the electrolytic solution contained in the tanks. The articles 59, supported upon the tracks 58, are con tacted along a portion of their upper unsubmerged surface thereof by the flexible contact copper belts 10 as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 8. Supported centrally and longitudinally of the machine between each of the respective pairs of contact belts 10, are horizontal supporting bars 60, shown in de tail in Fig. 9, mounted upon uprights 61, and said bars 60, are provided with brackets 62, spaced therealong, as shown in Fig. 11, with a rectangular aperture therethrough and with rollers 63, on the interior of said aperture. An upright rectangular bar 64, extends slidably through the bracket 62, and is provided with a series of holes 65, there through, adapted to receive a pin engaged through any one thereof to support said bar in the brackets at any desired height. Pivoted on the lower end of each of the bars 64, are relatively long contact shoes 66, and said shoes rest upon the top surface of the lower runs of the contact belts 10. Heavy conductor wires 67, are connected to said shoes 66, and lead upwardly and are connected to the brackets 62, which are connected to bus bars hereinafter described.

Mechanism is provided for feeding the cylindrical articles 59, into engaging position around the anode elements which are carried by the chains24. For this purpose, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8, ways 68, are mounted at the forward end of the machine to receive a barrel or other cylindrical article 59, longitudinally thereon, and two of such ways are provided, alined with one another, one for each side of the machine, inasmuch as the machine is of double construction.

Slidable between said ways 68, as shown clearly in Figs. 7 and 16, is a wedged shaped pusher or thrust block 69. Mounted beneath said Ways 68, are sprocket wheels 70, and 71, respectively, around which is trained a chain 72, provided with a ,stop or lug 73, on one link thereof, which serves to engage behind a lug 74, beneath the wedge block 69, to retract the same to position at the outer end of the ways. Said block 69, is held retracted at the outer end of the ways by a spring impelled latch pin 75, which engages behind a pin 76, of the wedge block, and tripping means is provided to retract the latch pin at certain intervals. When the latch pin is retracted, the pusher block 69, is moved rapidly along between the ways 68, tothrust the barrel or other cylindrical object therealong, and this movement is imparted to the pusher block by means of a cable '77, connected to the block and led around idler sheaves 78, 79, 80 and 81, and at its ends is provided with a weight 82, which is movable vertically alongside of an upright 3.

The trip mechanism for retracting the latch pin 75, consists of a crank or finger 83, shown in detail in Fig. 18, which is secured upon the end of a. long shaft 84, extending longitudinally beneath the ways 68. At the other end of said shaft 84, as shown in Fig. 15, a crank 85, is connected, which is connected by a link 86, to a crank 87, and said crank 87, is secured upon a shaft 88, to which another long crank or finger 89, is also secured and so positioned as to be contracted by one of the anode cross-bars 25, as it is thrust along on its guides 42, by the chains 24. The chain 72, upon which the stop 73, is secured for retracting the pusher block 69, is driven continuously by the sprocket wheel 70, which is mounted upon a shaft 90, and secured upon said shaft .90, for the purpose, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, is a bevel pinion 91, meshing with a bevel pinion 92, secured upon a long shaft 93.

Also secured upon said shaft 93, is a pinion 94, meshing with a gear 95, and-said gear 95, is secured upon a short shaft 96, together with a small sprocket wheel 97, as shown in detail in Fig. 13. A chain 98, is trained aroimd said small sprocket wheel 97, and also about a sprocket wheel 99, which is mounted on the same shaft with the sprocket wheels 38. In view of the fact that the feedin mechanisms are in du licate at the end of the machine, the shaft 93, as well as the shaft 88, serves for both feeding mechanisms, as shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to Fig. 1. it will be seen that a discharge mechanism is provided at the rear end of the machine, for ejecting the cylindrical articles after the same are passed out of the rinsing tanks 47, and for this purpose,

a pair of ways 100, are provided, one pair for each side of the machine. The ways 100, are identical in construction with the ways 68, shown at the forward end of the machine, but with the wedge blocks operable outwardly or in an opposite direction and with the mechanisms for actuating and releasing the same reversely mounted so that the pusher blocks may engage the inner edge of an article, and, when the pusher block is released, slide the article to the outer end of the ways. Details of this discharge mechanism have not been shown for the reason that the construction is identical with that of the feed mechanism, except reversed, of course, for discharge instead of a feeding operation.

Mounted at one side of the machine is a motor generator set denoted as a whole by the reference numeral 101, and leading from the positive pole of the generator is a bus bar 102, which is electrically connected to the bus bar A series of bus bars 103, lead from the negative pole of the generator, and are connected transversely across the supporting beams 60, to the brackets 62, for the cathode shoes or brushes 66.

The operation is as follows:

The articles or objects to be galvanized, which, in the present instance, are shown as cylinders which it is desired to galvanize both on the interior and exterior surfaces, are rolled onto the ways 68, at the outer end thereof. Inasmuch as the chain 24, is continuously driven, an anode carrying bar 25, will be moved past the finger 89, shown in Fig. 14, thereby actuating the system of levers to operate the release finger 83, shown in Fig. 15, for the latch pin 75. The pusher block 69, will then thrust the object'59, along on the ways 68, to the inner end thereof, and the mechanism is so timed that the article will be registered exactly over one of the anode elements, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. The chains 24, continuing their movement, the rollers 32, forming a part of one of the anode elements, will contact the interior surface of the object 59, lifting the same upwardly from the ways and carrying the object over and into the tank, lowering the object down and onto the tracks 58. The initial rolling movement is imparted to the object by contact of one of the rollers 32, with the interior surface thereof, but the object will finally move beneath the flexible copper contact belts 10. and when this occurs, the belts 10, which may be moving at a speed faster than the linear movement of the articles, may serve to roll the objects along on the tracks 58, and, due to contact with the article, establish the article as a cathode pole in the electrolytic solution.

If the articles are rolled along by the flexible copper belts 10, instead of by the nearpee rollers 32, the rollers 32, of the anode elefrom contacting, that is, maintain the same properly spaced during their progress through the machine. In actual practice, the rollers-32, will generally serve to positively move the articles through the machine. Although the copper belts 10, are shown straight, they will generally flex or conform to the upper surface of the object with which they are in contact, thereby effectinga large frictional contact with the articles, and afi'ording a good electrical con nection therewith.

The anode metal sheet 34, on the interior .of the object, may be of any metal desired to coat the interior surface of the article, and the outer stationary anode bars 57, over and above which the articles are caused to roll, may be of the same or difierent metal. When the articles have been rolled to the rear end of the tank, as! shown in Fig. 6, they pass outwardly from beneath the belts 10, and are carried by the rollers 32, along on the chain 24, upwardly out of the tank solution, thereby draining themselves. The articles are then conveyed downwardly into a rinsing tank 47, and are caused to roll for a short distance therethrough on tracks 58, and are then elevated therefrom and carried to and deposited upon the discharge ways 100. Said discharge ways 100, are practically identical in construction with the feed ways 68, and their associated mechanisms previously described, with the exception that the pusher blocks of the latten ways 100, operate to eject the cylindrical objects longitudinally outwardly out of registered engagement with the anode elements. The entire operation of the machine is entirely visible to the operator at alltimes. The level of the electrolytic fluid in the tank is only sufficient to submerge the anodes 34, so that approximately only two thirds of an object is immersed in the electrolytic fluid during the operation. It is obvious that according, to the arrangement of the anodes and the control of the electric current used,

that any depth of plating of the objects may be attained, and the depth may be aried on the interior and exterior thereof, if so desired. In view of the fact that the anode elements are not positively attached to the conveying chains 24, they may be readily removed therefromeither to reduce the number of anode elements in use, or to replace the same by anode elements of different material when desired.

I am aware that various details of construction may be varied through a wide ran e without departing from the principles of t is invention, and I therefore do not pur pose limitingthe patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine of the class described, a

tank containing an electrolytic solution, means for supporting articles partially submerged in said tank, cathode mechanism contacting the unsubmerged portion of the articles to cause movement thereof through the tank, and anodes movable with said articles through said tank.

2. In a machine of the class described, a tank containing a solution of electrolyte, means for supporting articles for movement through the tank, continuous flexible copper cathode belts adapted to contact the eX- posed portion of articles partially submerged in the tank to cause movement thereof along on said means, and anodes in the tank composed of metal with which the articles are to be plated.

3. In a machine of the class described, a tank of electrolytic solution, and movable anodes engaging and passing cylindrical objects thereinto and then disengaging the same to simultaneously permit the plating of the objects on both the interior and eX- terior surfaces thereof.

4. In a machine of the class described, a tank of electrolytic solution, means for supporting articles for movement therethrough partially submerged in said solution, electrical contact means for contact with the exposed portion of the articles adapted to move the same through said tank on said means, and pole members movable through the solution with said articles during move ment thereof through the machine.

5. In a machine of the class described, a tank of electrolytic solution adapted to re ceive articles for movement therethrough partially submerged in said solution, a pole member for contact with the unsubmerged portion of the articles during movement thereof through the machine, and pole members movable with the article through the machine.

6. In an electro-plating machine for plating articles on all surfaces thereof, pole members disposed within and on the eX- terior of the articles, and movable with the article during its progress through the machine.

7. In a machine of the class described adaptedto receive articles moved continuously therethrough, movable pole members, one thereof contacting the articles, and both moving with the articles in their course through the machine, and stationary pole members mounted in the machine.

8. In a machine of the class described, a tank of electrolytic solution, a continuous oonveyer, pole members associated therewith, feeding means to engage an article upon a pole member to be conveyed thereby into said tank, and an opposite pole member adapted to contact the article in the tank and to move the article independently of said first pole member through said tank articles in their progress through the ma chine.

10. In a machine of the class described, a tank of electrolytic solution, stationary means for supporting articles partially submerged therein, a pole member adapted to contact the unsubmerged portion of the armember, anc

ticles to move the same along on said means through the tank, stationary pole members in said tank, and pole members movable along with the articles through said tank.

11. In a machine of the class described, a tank of electrolytic solution, supporting means for articles to be moved therethrough, a pole member adapted to contact the articles and to cause movement thereof through the tank, other pole members movable with the articles through the tank, feeding mechanism operating automatically to engage an article around a movable pole discharge mechanism to eject the article out of engagement with its pole melmber after a plating operation on the artic e;

12. In a machine of the class described, a tank containing an electrolytic solution, stationary means for said tank, cathode mechanism contacting a portion of the articles to cause movement thereof through the tank,and anodes movable with said articles through said tank acting to maintain the articles spaced from one another.

13. In a machine of the class described, a tank containing a solution of electrolyte, means for supporting articles for movement through said tank, continuous flexible cathode means adapted to contact the exposed portion of articles partially submerged in the tank, and anodes in the tank composed of metal with which the articles are to be plated.

14. In a machine of the class described, a tank-of electrolytic solution, and a plurality of means disposed within and on the exterior of cylindrical objects for rolling the same through the tank in spaced'relation to simultaneously plate the objects both on the intenor and exterior surfaces thereof.

15. In a machine of the class described, a tank of electrolytic solution, means for sup; portlng articles for movement therethrough partially submerged in said solution, moving electrical contact means for contact with supporting articles in,

-movement thereof through the machine, and

pole members adapted to move the articles through the machine in spaced relation.

17 In an electro-plating machine for plating articles on all surfaces thereof, pole members disposed within and on the exterior of the articles, and movable to positively move the article through the machine.

18. In a machine of the class described adapted to receive articles moved continuously therethrough, pole members of opposite polarity movable through the machine, one thereof contacting the articles, and said members moving with the articles in their course through the machine, and stationary pole members mounted in the machine over which said articles are moved.

19. In a machine of the class described, a tank of electrolytic solution, a continuous conveyer, pole member's associated therewith, and opposite pole members adapted to contact the article in the tank and to move with the article through said tank during a plating operation.

20. In a machine of the class described, a tank of-electrolytic solution, means supporting articles for movement through the tank while partially submerged-therein, a. flexible contact belt to contact the articles and forming one pole of the machine, other pole members associated with the articles and out of contact therewith and movable with the articles in their progress through the machine, and means associated with said latter pole members to contact the articles and move the same through the machine.

21. In a machine of the class described, a tank of electrolytic solution, and movable anodes engaging the interior of an object to carry the object into the solution for a plating operation.

22. In an electro-plating machine for plating articles on all surfaces thereof, anode members engaging the interior of the articles and movable independently of the articles in their progress through the machine.

23. In an electro-plating machine the combination with a tank of electrolytic solution, of cathodes movable therein, and movable anodes engaging objects to carry the same into the solution to be conducted through the solution by said cathodes.

24. In an electro-plating machine the "combination with a tank of electrolytic solummnee l 7 :irticles and carry them into the solution,

and cathodes in sand solution for conveying the articles through said solution, said anodes adapted to engage and carry the articles out of the solution after their passage therethrough.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two Witnesses:

CHARLES W.- HILLS, Jn, EARL M. HARDINE. 

